Hands-On with the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold: Triple the Fun, Triple the Queries

Have we reached a tipping point? Is this the moment when the smartphone market truly shifts into a new paradigm? Is this the beginning of a world where tri-folding smartphone designs inevitably dominate? In my hands-on experience with the newly announced Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, I may not answer all these exaggerated questions, but I do have several insights to share.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFoldHands-On Video Overview

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFoldFrom Paper to Brick and Back

Samsung’s team has packaged their Galaxy Z TriFold beautifully. Upon unboxing, I find the device unfolded. The initial interaction with the device is quite impressive.

To the uninitiated, it could almost be mistaken for a thin tablet. It’s important to emphasize this: the 3.9 mm thickness of the Galaxy Z TriFold when fully unfolded is a delight to hold, reminiscent of the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra.

But make no mistake. Surprise (not)! This quasi-tablet transforms into a smartphone! And when fully folded, the Galaxy Z TriFold resembles the Galaxy Z Fold 7 from the front. With one tiny, minor detail different: THICKNESS!

While the Fold 7, which only folds in half, has come close to the form factor of traditional, easy-to-handle smartphones, the Galaxy Z TriFold is far from it. Naturally, there’s an extra layer because it folds twice.

But Samsung could hardly do better: if it were to make its phone any thinner, it might need to sacrifice the USB-C port. Again, the device is incredibly slim when unfolded, and the charging connector fits just right into the edge.

Another consequence: the device’s weight of 309 grams, imperceptible in tablet form, becomes quite noticeable in smartphone mode. All this concentrated weight really enhances the brick-like feel of the device.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFoldSamsung vs Huawei: Two Opposing Visions

You’ll also notice that Samsung and Huawei have fundamentally different approaches. Huawei has already introduced two tri-folding smartphones (Mate XT and Mate XTs).

Huawei’s tri-folding models feature a single, continuous display that folds like an accordion. Thus, the same panel is used whether in smartphone, Fold, or TriFold mode. It’s visually stunning, but such a design constantly exposes the more fragile folding screen.

On the other hand, Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold takes no such risks. Thus, it features two screens: an external 6.5-inch display for smartphone use, and a 10-inch internal display for tablet use.

The more fragile, folding screen thus remains well protected when the smartphone is folded, and the tougher external glass screen ends up on the back surface when using the unfolded Galaxy Z TriFold. Another thing to note: unlike Huawei’s models, which have three possible shapes, Samsung’s champion offers only two. The intermediate Fold model is not usable since, in this form, half of the screen is covered by a foldable panel of the smartphone.

In other words, remember that the fold is:

• In U-shape for Samsung (forming a sort of snail-like roll when closed, like a wrap);
• In Z-shape for Huawei.

Personally, I find Huawei’s solution more eye-catching, and its versatility is an advantage. On the other hand, Samsung’s philosophy seems more reassuring for the long term, though I find the opening of the smartphone less smooth.

And speaking of opening, I must also mention the closing. When you fold the Galaxy Z TriFold back into smartphone mode, there’s a specific order that isn’t necessarily the most intuitive.

First, you need to fold the left panel and then the right panel. However, during my trial, I tended to close the right panel first. And watch out! The smartphone not only displays an error message but also starts to vibrate intensely.

It’s unlikely that someone would break their Galaxy Z TriFold this way, but it’s a friction point that I encountered several times during about 90 minutes of handling.

Beyond that, the finishes are impeccable, and the two hinges provide enough resistance to give a real impression of robustness.

Note that you won’t have much freedom if you want to stop folding midway. Very often, the hinge will flatten out as if some sort of springs were forcing it in that direction.

As for the two creases that cross the large screen, they are visible depending on the light reflections, but they are almost imperceptible to the touch.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFoldPotential Uses

By this point in the article, it’s clear that the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is a true technological marvel and it’s impressive in many ways. However, a crucial question remains: what is the purpose of such a device?

To answer that, I could mention the greater comfort of use on the large screen, which is even more satisfying than a classic Fold. I could also tell you about some already known features of the camera, such as being able to see a good preview of the photo you just took or activating the rear screen during shooting to help the subject strike the best pose or to help you frame a selfie properly.

However, I imagine the main argument Samsung will promote over generations of TriFolds will be the perennial productivity. And in this respect, the Korean manufacturer leverages all its expertise gained with the Folds and its One UI interface. Multitasking is truly a joy with the ability to display up to 3 applications side by side vertically as if you really had three smartphones in front of you at the same time.

This multitasking is further enhanced by intelligent drag-and-drop management. Selecting and moving text or images from one application to another (from the gallery to the Notes app, for example) is a breeze.

The DeX mode is also a delight. During the hands-on, I briefly used the Galaxy Z TriFold as a small secondary screen while I worked on a PC monitor. The mouse moved smoothly from the phone to the monitor. And since we’re talking about a tri-foldable, this small auxiliary screen is even more practical than on a classic Fold.

A Product Still in Development (and in Need of Democratization)

These are indeed compelling arguments that can convince a demanding audience. However, I hope Samsung will propose other use cases. In the meantime, while many people in my circle still don’t quite understand the utility of a foldable smartphone, I don’t see them getting more excited about a tri-foldable one.

In short, the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold certainly doesn’t leave me indifferent, but it has not yet managed to answer all my questions.

In the meantime, with a price that would likely be around 3000 euros if it were to be released in France, I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that it’s not tomorrow that this Galaxy Z TriFold or its tri-foldable peers will replace traditional smartphones.

While new formats are indeed exciting, the old ones remain so relevant for the majority of users.